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Our central purpose and duty here at the Baltimore Rescue Mission is to proclaim the “unsearchable riches” of the Lord Jesus Christ; to seek the salvation of the lost; instruct believers in the Word of God; conduct gospel and bible teaching services; feed, clothe, and help the needy; and foster, promote and encourage all phases of general rescue mission work.

The Baltimore Rescue Mission is the result of the need for a Christian rescue mission in Baltimore City that would receive African American men.  In the days prior to the Equal Rights Amendment, there was no mission in Baltimore City that would allow African Americans in their doors.

909 Penn. Avenue

In 1956, Mr. John Ehlers along with two other Christian businessmen, rented a small, one room building at 909 Pennsylvania Avenue that could be used to begin the Baltimore Rescue Mission.  The men first listened to a gospel service and then received watered down soup and whatever else was donated for food.  When the food was finished they folded the chairs and slept on newspapers and blankets.

Sleeping On The Floor

The first director of the Baltimore Rescue Mission was Raleigh Holt, a young man studying at Detroit Bible College.  Raleigh had been through Baltimore and the Lord burdened his heart to start a rescue mission there.  While a student at Detroit Bible College, Raleigh was working at the Detroit Rescue Mission.  Raleigh became the Executive Director of the Baltimore Rescue Mission for thirty-one years.

416 North Green St.

In 1963, the Mission moved to larger and more suitable facilities at 416 North Green Street.  Here the mission grew and developed.  Many of the policies we have in place today were formed at Green Street.  In 1974, the city took the property to build a post office and the mission moved to its present location at 4 North Central Avenue.

The property at Central Avenue is an acre square and three stories tall.  The Karis Home building is four stories tall.  We are able to accommodate nearly 200 men and 35 women and children to sleep overnight and receive supper and breakfast.  We also provide free serviceable used clothing, a detoxification unit for drug and alcohol abusers, and a medical clinic.

In 1987, the Lord called Pastor Chuck Buettner to be the new Executive Director of the Baltimore Rescue Mission.  Pastor Buettner has been serving the Lord at the Baltimore Rescue Mission for over twenty years now with his wife Janna, who assists him in his administrative responsibilities.  To email Pastor Buettner .